Legal notice bans advertising for, or availability of transplant organs

A legal notice which bans advertising of the need for, or the availability of, transplant organs has been published in the Government Gazette. The Organ Transplants (Quality and Safety) Regulations transpose EU regulations on standards of quality and safety of human organs intended for transplantation. It specifically lays down that: "Donations of organs from deceased and living donors shall be voluntary and unpaid. The principle of non-payment shall not prevent living donors from receiving compensation, provided it is strictly limited to making good the expenses and loss of income related to the donation." The authority responsible for transplants shall define the conditions under which such compensation may be granted, while avoiding there being any financial incentives or benefit for a potential donor. "It shall be illegal to advertise the need for, or availability of, organs where such advertising is with a view to offering or seeking financial gain or comparable advantage," the regulations say, adding that the procurement of organs shall be carried out on a non-profit basis. Earlier this year, the Mater Dei organ transplant ethics committee had decided it would not...